A new phase of protecting the water supply feeding homes and businesses in west Dorset will begin with an investment of almost £700,000 this summer.
Nearly three-quarters of a mile of a major trunk main running through a rural area of the county is being replaced as part of a major Wessex Water overhaul taking place just inland from the historic Jurassic Coast.
Teams will move on to private land between the villages of Litton Cheney and Puncknowle to replace around 1,200 metres of ageing pipes, with new plastic pipes helping to maintain the integrity of the supply for many years to come.
The work is part of a wider push to replace more than two miles of the main in the area, with further improvements set to follow in the coming years.
Getting under way on 24July, the replacement will take around 20 weeks and is expected to be finished around the start of December this year.
It continues Wessex Water’s drive to invest in the supply network by renewing ageing water mains as well as maintaining and improving facilities that help store and move water around the region to supply its customers.
The company spends around £12 million each year to replace older water mains within its network, which spans more than 12,000 kilometres.
Wessex Water project manager Nathan Storey said: “This is a major trunk main that helps to feed west Dorset and we are looking to replace 3,500 metres of the main in total split over this scheme and at least one more.
“This particular project will take place entirely within fields, using both open-cut methods and directional drilling which means we can limit the impact on local people because we are not working on local roads.
“Repairing a main like this means our customers will be able to enjoy improved water quality and a more reliable supply and helps reduce problems caused by leaks from ageing and degrading pipes.’’
Wessex Water supplies more than 282 million litres of water every day to 1.4 million customers and 44,000 businesses.
The company currently spends £16 million a year on managing and reducing leaks and repaired nearly 15,000 leaks between April 2022 and March of this year.
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